Sow your own way

New breeds of seeds are a sure ticket to pure joy, as theyll grow into striking plants that wont cost the earth, writes Dermot O'Neill

Next time you buy a packet of seeds, consider an observation from the American folk poet Edgar A Guest who writes:

Now seeds are just dimes to the man in the store, And the dimes are the things that he needs.

And I’ve been to buy them in season before, But have thought of them merely as seeds.

But it flashed through my mind as I took them this time, You purchased a miracle here for a dime.

Of course, to the dedicated gardener, seeds are indeed miraculous. Apart from the wonder of life emerging from such tiny pods, you can fill a garden with summer colour at a fraction of the price of stocking up at a garden centre.

At this time of year I can think of nothing more enjoyable than curling up in an armchair and sifting through the latest seed catalogues.